Gary Steele
Encyclopedia
Gary Steele is a retired British
professional wrestler, who has competed in European and North American promotions and has been a popular longtime mainstay of NWA UK Hammerlock
since the mid-1990s. A former Southern UK Champion, Steele was involved in a series of strap matches with rival Guy Thunder during the late 1990s and has occasionally teamed with Jake "the Snake" Roberts
. A trained submission wrestler and martial artist, Steele also appeared at the Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE PPV supercards "Fighting Athlete" in March 2001 and True Century Creation II in March 2002.
While competing in the United States with the National Wrestling Alliance
, Steele defeated Naoya Ogawa
in a three way match with Brian Anthony in Charlotte, North Carolina
on September 25, 1999 to become one of the youngest wrestlers to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
although he lost the title back to Ogawa one week later in Thomaston, Connecticut
on October 2.
He was managed by "Business Advisor to the Stars" Mike White (now working as a Sports Journalist for BBC Radio Humberside) at one stage.
Returning to Great Britain, he became the first NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion after defeating Johnny Moss
in a tournament final at Telford Shropshire
, England
on November 2, 2001.
Almost two years after Ogawa had vacated the title, Steele lost to then NWA World Champion Shinya Hashimoto
in a round robin triangle match with Steve Corino
at McKeesport, Pennsylvania
on December 15, 2001.
He appeared as a contestant on the UK version of Deal Or No Deal
on June 28, 2011.
1The Mid-Atlantic promotion he was wrestling in when he won the championship has been in operation since the late 1990s. While it operates out of the same region and has revised some of the regional Mid-Atlantic championships, it isn't the same promotion once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr.
and sold to Ted Turner
in November 1988. That promotion went onto be renamed World Championship Wrestling
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional wrestler, who has competed in European and North American promotions and has been a popular longtime mainstay of NWA UK Hammerlock
NWA UK Hammerlock
NWA UK Hammerlock was a British professional wrestling promotion based in Kent.-History:Established in 1993 by former wrestler turned promoter Andre "Sledgehammer" Baker, it is one of the National Wrestling Alliance's territories...
since the mid-1990s. A former Southern UK Champion, Steele was involved in a series of strap matches with rival Guy Thunder during the late 1990s and has occasionally teamed with Jake "the Snake" Roberts
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
. A trained submission wrestler and martial artist, Steele also appeared at the Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE PPV supercards "Fighting Athlete" in March 2001 and True Century Creation II in March 2002.
While competing in the United States with the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, Steele defeated Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
in a three way match with Brian Anthony in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
on September 25, 1999 to become one of the youngest wrestlers to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
although he lost the title back to Ogawa one week later in Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston, Connecticut
Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,503 at the 2000 census.-History:The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled in the early 18th century. The town is known for clock making, which...
on October 2.
He was managed by "Business Advisor to the Stars" Mike White (now working as a Sports Journalist for BBC Radio Humberside) at one stage.
Returning to Great Britain, he became the first NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion after defeating Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss was a gambler and professional poker player. He was the first winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event, at the time a cash game event in which he was awarded the title by the vote of his peers in 1970, He also twice won the current tournament format of the WSOP Main Event in...
in a tournament final at Telford Shropshire
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on November 2, 2001.
Almost two years after Ogawa had vacated the title, Steele lost to then NWA World Champion Shinya Hashimoto
Shinya Hashimoto
, was a Japanese professional wrestler. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid 1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s....
in a round robin triangle match with Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
at McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
on December 15, 2001.
He appeared as a contestant on the UK version of Deal Or No Deal
Deal or No Deal (UK game show)
Deal or No Deal is the United Kingdom version of the Endemol game show format Deal or No Deal, hosted by Noel Edmonds. 1,758 shows have been aired...
on June 28, 2011.
Championships and accomplishments
- Mid-Atlantic Championship WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
1- NWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
(1 time)
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- NWA UK HammerlockNWA UK HammerlockNWA UK Hammerlock was a British professional wrestling promotion based in Kent.-History:Established in 1993 by former wrestler turned promoter Andre "Sledgehammer" Baker, it is one of the National Wrestling Alliance's territories...
- NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA United Kingdom Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the NWA UK Hammerlock promotion. The championship has existed since 2001.-Title History:-External links:*...
(1 time)
- NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 202 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2001.
1The Mid-Atlantic promotion he was wrestling in when he won the championship has been in operation since the late 1990s. While it operates out of the same region and has revised some of the regional Mid-Atlantic championships, it isn't the same promotion once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr. is a former professional wrestling promoter. From 1973 to 1988, he owned Jim Crockett Promotions , a wrestling company affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance...
and sold to Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
in November 1988. That promotion went onto be renamed World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
.